Drowning in Waters

Aurora Foy always thought she had a perfect life, even with a past she never knew, a past she never questioned or dwelled on. Everything she wanted was there; great set of friends, her dream career, and people who would always be there to support her.

But as everything in her life starts to settle down she starts to walk down a path she never knew existed, a path where she would meet Vincent Waters. A mysterious man that grabs her attention physically, emotionally, and sexually.
She knew better than to stride closer to him. He was dangerous in every way… Except, he made her feel things she had never felt before.

Bittersweet passion. Desire. Addiction. Pleasure. Love.

Feelings she never knew existed.

He was empowering, immaculate, and daunting but nevertheless, misguided by his own past. When they begin their intimate relationship, secrets will be exploited and the two will encounter each others troubled and dark history that might drive them both mad.View table of contents...

Chapters:

I.D. Bag. Phone.
Wallet. Jacket. What else? My mind wanders through the whole
apartment as I try to remember everything I need to bring for
tonight's event, I seriously hope I don't forget
anything, I take another look around the room with my eyes
narrowing down to every inch of this place like a robot on
patrol.

I glance at my watch,
six-thirty in the evening, shitshitshshit!I'm already late! After finally deciding that I have
everything I need for tonight I immediately drag my feet to the
door and push my OCD far back in my mind and lock all thoughts of
it until later.

My phone
rings.

Andie, uh-oh!
I pray a short and silent prayer before answering, hoping she
won't grill me for my punctuality.

"Andie" I say in the
sweetest way I can, I'm already by the elevator waiting for its
arrival, anticipating the ping to cue the doors
open.
"Don't Andie me, Aurora!"Fuck. She's
mad.

But luck is on my side
at the moment as I hear the most wonderful sound in the world,
ping, and the elevator doors open before me like the
gates of heaven; I scurry inside and sigh with relief while
pressing 'G' and the close button.

"This is probably bad,"
I start, remembering my grumpy best friend is on the other
line.She hisses, not a good sign. "You think?" sarcasm, her choice
of language.
"I'm really sorry, Andie! I was so busy getting myself ready," my
voice sounds desperate; furious Andie is someone I try to avoid
after all these years of friendship. "I didn't notice how time
just flew away."
"Everyone is already here and they're asking for you! What do
you want me to do? Dance the Macarena??" I hear restless
chattering in the background and Andie's off nervous breathing.
"Aurora!"
I wince, at the same time the elevator opens and I dash hurriedly
to the glassed entrance "I'm already out and on my way."
"Please." she pleads, whoa. "Hurry up!"
"Roger that." I playfully giggle and hang up, not wanting to hear
her violent reaction.

As I come across my
Hyundai Elantra, parked just outside, I drag the keys out, jump
in and start the engine. In heels, I push down the gas and as
much as possible drive as fast, and legally, as I
can.

Driving through N.
Spaulding Ave., I wonder aimlessly to the event tonight and my
very unlucky misfortune, out of all the nights, I had to be late
Aurora, just like I was back in high school and a tiny bit in
college. I mean, seriously, a normal person would usually be an
hour or two early if their dreams would finally come
true.

My phone rings, again,
distracting me from my self-preaching. I take it out of my bag
and see not a call, but a text.

-THE SHOW
WILL START AT 7PM, HURRY UP!-

And Miss Andrea Chloe
Ignacio is as bossy as ever, nothing out of the ordinary
here.

I reach the gallery
with ten minutes to spare and try to find Andie from the pool of
people who came to witness my very proud moment, it fattens my
heart but, sadly, I don't know half of them. I walk, looking
around with both eyes and ears alert for my, as of now, irate
friend.

"Aurora!" I hear, but
not from her, on the farther left of the room. My head shifts and
spot a very familiar face, familiar enough to make me squeal and
run towards to.
"Jake! I can't believe you made it!" my ear-to-ear smile cannot
be contained as I got closer to the man who just made my night
extra special.
He opens his arms for me to enter to, I comply. "What? Did you
think I'd miss this?" he raises one of his arms as he refers to
the gallery.

I giggle and hug him
tighter, how I missed this mischievous guy.

"Anyway…" he pulls me
away from him, holding me out by my shoulders and does a quick
scan from head to toe. "You look great! Not gorgeous great, but
great!"
I grin, he hasn't change a bit. "Oh, shut up," I wiggle
free from him and swat his shoulder. "You're not so bad
yourself."

My eyes stare; it's
been so long since I've seen him that it seems so unreal that
he's here. Jake's really changed after the two years in college
and 6 months of work, he looks so grown up. His long black hair
from college is now trimmed neatly into a perfect clean cut, dark
grey eyes are full of happiness, his once flawless face has
stubbles that look good with his broad facial features and he has
a much bigger build than before. Wow.

"I know, moving to
Sydney does things to a man." he jokes whole-heartedly before
giving another one of his famous bear hugs, it brings back old
memories.

Jacob Williams, my childhood friend and brother figure, moved to
Australia a few months back, a continent where lay the most
promising actors and actresses. He's dream back when we were kids
was to become a director, just like his dad, and went on to
pursue it in Sydney where he stayed for 6 months, training and
learning how the movie industry works. I had no idea that he
finished already, has it been half a year?

"Anyway, Andie called me up and invited me to surprise you," he
grins. "Looks like I succeeded."
I laugh alongside with him "Yeah but-"
"Aurora Jillian Foy!" I turn, not really wanting to, and see a
red cheeked Andie by the stage who looks like she could kill me
any time soon. Shit.
"Oh," I sheepishly chuckle and scoot behind Jake, who is unaware
of my predicament. I'm tempted to either use him as my human
shield or throw him at Andie just to save myself.

She stomps towards us
with her very high heels and I'm seriously considering
throwing Jake at her, with flaming hazel eyes Andie shows no sign
of going easy on me, help!

"Great, you're here."
all anger gone and she innocently smiles when she reaches
us.
I look at her then at Jake. "Um..?"
"Jake, darling, I need to take Aurora away from you,
'kay?" taking me by my arm I realize that she's not mad, she's
raging, and her grip totally gives it
away.

He nods, his expression
dumbfounded as Andie drags me to god who knows
where.

"Bestie…" I coo, trying
to lighten up her mood as my heels stumble on the marble floor, I
see our current situation right under our feet.
"Shut up," she coldly replies as she drags me backstage. The last
time I got her this mad was during our last semester in college
when I accidentally spilled paint all over her graduation dress,
how I swore to never resurrect the anger she had back
then.

She pushes me on the
chair and brings out her make up kit for a retouch.

"You are so lucky I
stalled the MC," the nagging begins, but that comes with the
package for my friendship with her. "I had to keep him occupied!
And let me tell you, that man is beyond disgusting!"
I smile as she tints some pink lipstick on my lips. "But I knew
your flirtatious skills would come in handy" I say after she
releases my jaw and judges her work.
She nods approvingly. "That is so not how I pictured using
it."
"But really…" I stand and give her a tight quick hug "Thank
you."

She sighs and gives me
a reassuring smile, I am forgiven!

But I really can't
thank Andie enough, throughout college she's been the one saving
my ass at everything. I was hoping things would change after but
I guess old habits die hard, crap.

"No, Aurora, thank
you." she grins, jeez, I think I have a hint as
to why.

I roll my eyes at her
and curtsy with my aquamarine strapless bubble dress. Andie was
the one who picked it out last weekend forcing me to wear it for
tonight's event.

-o-o-

"This dress is
you!" she squeals in delight as she flaunts it in front of me,
uninterested in her all-time favorite hobby. "The color will make
your skin pop white, not pale, and it's the only blue-green I
approve near your hair!"
I sigh and raise my hand in defeat, knowing I will not escape
Miss Ignacio's claws. "Okay, okay."

Taking the dress
from her I grumpily walk to the dressing room and, with all my
might, breathe in and begin to undress to
dress.

The dress fits
perfectly, exaggerating my curves and cupping my breasts with
comfort. I stare and evaluate myself. Andie was right; the dress
makes my overly white skin pop, in a good way and my wavy
chestnut hair mixes well with it. Alright,
Andie.

I step out and hear
squealing once again.

-o-o-

My mind fast forwards
back to the now and see my very controlling friend by
the red satin curtains, she's clinically scanning the audience
and I hear their murmurs slowly fading.

She looks back at me
and gives me a thumbs-up "Good luck" she mouths before
scurrying away from the curtains.

"And now…" I hear
outside, completely unaware that Andie has already given the MC
the go signal to introduce me to our guests, oh
no.

As my name was called,
Aurora Jillian Foy, the curtains slide to their side of
the stage and let striking light stab my eyes with a bit of pain.
I was seriously blinded. Seeing only darkness but hears the
clapping of hands and whistles, probably from Jake, in front of
me.

I let my eyes adjust
and settle to see strangers cheering me on, half of them are
probably rich moguls who came here to judge whether or not my
works are worthy of their time and money. I frown at the thought
but quickly discard it to greet everyone with a
smile.

Stepping forward,
carefully, I reach for the microphone and clear my throat. "Good
evening and thank you, everyone," I scan the room to acknowledge
every person's presence. "Thank you for coming to my art
exhibition."

My art
exhibition. I smile.

I pause again and look
around, looking for Jake and Andie, catching them in the middle
of the crowd with infectious smirks on their faces.

"After graduating from
Cranbrook Academy of Arts two years ago, I wondered if I could
really pursue my life goal; catch perfection in a
canvas. There were other aspiring young artists who have the
same determination as me, the same will power as me and the same
dreams as me. Who was I to be recognized?" I don't look away from
my friends who actually made me comfortable on stage, something I
was born not to get used to. "But, I was given this chance,
today, to showcase my talent and uniqueness to everyone who has
an eye for more than reality. I can't express how happy I am that
I, Aurora Foy, will be able to present my gift and creativity
tonight."

As cued the lights
behind the stage open, revealing endless paintings and sculptures
by yours truly. I blush, a bit embarrassed with my speech but
grateful enough for everyone's applause. They slowly move further
in to the gallery and I am reunited with my
friends.

"Some speech," Jake
whistled between his teeth, both hands in his pockets, he's
already started staring at what I'm presenting. "Never
thought you could make one"
Andie swats him on the chest and hisses at him. "Don't be such a
prude, Aurora's more than capable to do so."

My face gleams with joy
as I watch my most precious friends argue about something so
little, I've been thrown back to yester-year and could feel all
the happiness pouring out. After Jake left for Sydney Andie and I
were busy with our own work, I had this exhibit to worry while
she had her deadline to meet; the three of us didn't have time
for each other, not like when we were still in the
academy.

"Whoa! Aurora!" Jake,
who was always up for laughs, looks at me like I'm the bloody
ghost of Christmas past ready to take him away.

Andie calmly takes out
a pink silk like hanky; all decorated with flowers, and offers it
to me. She was always ready for these unexpected bursts by
moi.

I thankfully take it
and wipe the treacherous tears trailing down my cheeks, once
a cry baby, always a cry baby.

"I'm so sorry," shaking
and laughing, not the best combination, I try to get myself
together and sniffle to ease myself with my mercurial behavior.
"Just… Happy, really happy"
Andie shyly giggles and embraces me. "And we're really
happy for you, sweetie."
"Yeah," Jake nods, grinning like a school boy "We'll always have
your back, Aurie."

My head pops out of
Andie's arms and I glare at Jake, goddamn it Jacob
Williams! Using that childish old nickname once again, he
knows I'm vulnerable for a tease.

We join my guests
further in the gallery, smiling and laughing when appropriate,
having some small talk, entertaining their questions and just
enjoying the sight of actual mogul's appreciating what I've done.

After what seems to be
an eternity Jake, Andie and I notice the once lively and ocean
crowded gallery has turned in to something close to a ghost town.
It's already quarter to eleven and I'm not surprised at the
emptiness of the gallery, it's kind of peaceful.

"You've sold quite a
lot, Madam." one of the critics, I assume from his little tickler
with scribbles tucked in his breast pocket, compliments as he
sees me and my friends standing in front of one of my most
favorite paintings, Le Famille.

I nod to greet then
gaze down at the lower right hand of the portrait where my
initials, AJF, and signature are engraved; Mr. Critic joins me as
I spy the price tag and get the shock of the life time.
$50,000?! I had no idea the specialist the gallery gave
me had come to this conclusion; I had instructed them to do as
they please since they are the experts. But now, after
seeing this, I feel a pang of guilt. Asking this much, from a
rookie, holy cow!

"That's the most
expensive one," the balding, grey haired, stuffy old man laughs
heftily at, probably, my reaction. "The others are under $20,000
to $35,000." Was that supposed to make me feel better?
My eyebrows crease as I stare at the other painting hanging with
no price tags, my blood drains from my face with a question in
mind.

"How many paintings are
left for sale?" I feel uncomfortable asking this, not wanting to
know the answer at all. But I really don't understand myself, I
should be bouncing on the highest mountain on earth for the
success of my hard work, but I feel awful. Damn.
Why?
Mr. Critic tightens his grip on his wooden cane and coughs "I
think this," he points out at Le Famille, don't say it!
"Is the only one left."

"Well…" my cheeks,
still flushed, are lifted as I give Mr. Critic a smile that would
show how pleased I am as to how things turned out. "Never thought
this would be the outcome"
He laughs another weighty one that leaves my ears tingling to the
core. "You are a very talented lady, Madam; I can see a bright
future for you in this career."

My mouth opens to
attempt speech but withdraws as my brain defies me once again; I
just nod and flush at Mr. Critic.

Well, what'd ya know?
Dreams really do come true.

We continue our
conversation which steered to my college adventures, Jacob and
Andrea's careers, Mr. Critic's job offer. My, my. I'm
not even sure how this is actually happening.

But just before I could
swallow all these blessings, wonderful blessing, I try to
maneuver the conversation to an end. I need to think before any
decision should be made. I squirm and try to look distracted; my
head sways as Mr. Critic continues to talk, as I look for the
clock, I spy, in the corner of my dark green eye, a man dressed
in a devil red shirt, dark black coat with matching slacks and
shoes, coming closer to us. His dark mahogany curls flops down
his face making it hard to see what he looks like, but I'm
already half sure that he's good looking.

He stops right in front
of Andie, completely awe by his presence, and tilts his head
upward a little giving me and Mr. Critic a much better look of
his face.

I was
right!

His eyes, shades of the
gloomy blue sky, moves from Andie, to me, to Jake, then to Mr.
Critic, acknowledging everyone in the small circle.

"Good evening, John."
he speaks! His voice sounds so dark but, at the same
confusing time, light like an innocent little boy.
"And to you, Mr. Waters," John, Mr. Critic, nods and
smiles at the very gorgeous man in front of us.
"I must say," he runs his finger along his jaw, oh, and
smirks, shit! Sexy! "You never disappoint when it comes
to these kinds of events, I just wanted to thank you for inviting
me but I see that you're busy."

One of my eyebrows is
raised and I feel a bit flustered, my event pleases this man,
my event. I glance to my side and catch Andie staring,
Andrea Chloe Ignacio is staring! And spot Jake a bit
uncomfortable, probably because of his presence.

I fidget, realizing
that I, too, am uncomfortable with him here. John notices and
tries to contain his smile, probably his laughter
too.

He grabs me by my
shoulder, catching both Andie and I off guard, and lands Mr.
Waters into a questionable look. "Let me introduce you to the
artist of this fine gallery."

I squeak, surprised,
and cover my mouth in attempt to hide my embarrassing voice. But
I fail as I see Mr. Waters' expression turn into amusement, his
once horizontal mouth has now turned into a curve of a smile,
something better suited on him. I blush.

"The artist is as
lovely as her work," he grabs my hand gently, setting my face
burning with flames, and kisses it as a formal greeting. "I'm
Vincent Waters."
I stagger a bit but salvage myself immediately, yes!
"Pleased to meet you," very, very pleased "I'm Aurora,
Aurora Foy."

I stare at his blue
eyes; they seem softer up close, and try not to make him notice
how nervy I am. A distraction, I need one before my legs betray
me!

"Um…" I grab Jake and
Andie's arms and pull them, instantly, next to me. "These are my
friends and companions for tonight, Jake Williams." I withdraw my
arm around Jake and he takes a step forward.
"Jake." Mr. Waters nods; the usual way men greet themselves, and
Jake mirrors his action.
I roll my eyes and push Andie towards him. "And Andrea
Ignacio"
Andie looks at him not muttering a word before I notice her
cheeks flash scarlet, I know how you feel, bestie! "Mr.
Waters." she greets, finally.
"Miss Ignacio." he returns the same response and looks back at
me.

I check my friends
again and it seems like an invincible pressure has been lifted
from their shoulders, Jake has his confident composure back and
Andie doesn't look like a hopeless romantic high schooler who
daydreams about a hotshot jock. Thank
heavens.

"Thank you for coming
to see my work, Mr. Waters." I find myself once again and, do I
dare, look up to meet his gaze once more.
"Vincent, please." he corrects and has a sweet boy-next-door
smile plastered on his beautiful face, how could I say
no?
"Vincent," I repeat and fiddle with my fingers to distract
myself, just looking at him makes me tense.
He takes a step closer towards me, I try not to faint or lose it.
"This painting," he points towards it. "Did someone already
purchase it?"
I shake my head, trapped in his trance.
He nods approvingly which confuses me.
"It's quite expensive if you ask me and I understand why people
won't buy it, a novice like me shouldn't be selling paintings
with prices like that-"
Vincent cuts in. "I think it's very fitting."
"Oh"
"Yes," he winks. "And since I've met the artist," he looks up at
Le Famille and smiles, a brooding smile that makes me
wonder what is hidden behind it. "I'll be acquiring her last,
breathtaking, piece"
"Wha…" I try to form the words, I really try, but, goddamn
it, I'm so lost right now. Not only is this gorgeously
smokin' hot man going to buy my most expensive piece, he's also a
fucking smooth talker. Shit.